Metering means for tape dispensers



a A v I v W m m d "0 :m nwgw C G I a @M F n w 6 Y M 4 Oct. 12, 1954 A. c. HUMMEL METERING MEANS FOR TAPE DISPENSERS Filed July 29, 1953 Patented Oct. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES .FATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

My invention relates to tape dispensers, and more particularly to tape dispensers of the type provided with. a plurality of buttons or keys whereby the operator may predetermine the length of the tape dispensed by selecting the proper key.

In my copending application Serial No. 207,695, filed January 25, 1951, and entitled Metering Device for a Tape Dispenser, I have disclosed a push-button metering device for use with a tape dispenser of the type wherein a shaft is rotated to dispense the tape in a length proportional to the degree of rotation of the shaft. The device comprises an arm attached to the rotating shaft,

and an abutment is provided on the free end of the arm which sweeps through a curved path as the shaft is rotated during the dispensing movement. A keyboard carrying a series of buttons or keys is provided adjacent the path of the abutment carried by the arm, the keys being adapted to be depressed into the path of the abutment. The keys are arranged circumferentially along the path of the abutment and are positioned so that they will stop the abutment and the arm, when depressed, at a predetermined position which determines the degree of rotation of the shaft and hence the length of the tape dispensed. Each key is rovided with suitable indicia indicating the length of tape which will be dispensed upon depression of a particular key. The keys carry latch members which serve to maintain the'keys in the depressed position. However, the latch members are so arranged that when they are contacted by the abutment on the arm, they are released. The keys also have projectionsthereon which are engaged by a projection on the abutment after the latch is released and which prevents their return to the non-operative position. When the shaft on which the arm is mounted is moved in reverse direction, the abutment leaves the projection on the key and permits the key to return to the non-operative position by means of a spring incorporated in the key assembly.

The instant invention relates specifically to improvements in the mechanism taught in my aforementioned copending application, and is directed primarily to improvements in the key assembly and in the operative relationship between the keys and the movable arm carried by the rotating shaft.

It is a principal object of my invention to provide an improved key bar in. which the keys are supported, the key bar being provided with means whereby the keys may be individually removed for servicing or repair.

It is a further object of my invention to provide improvements in the action between the rotating arm and a depressed key, whereby the arm will act to release the key during both forward and return movement.

These and other objects of my invention which will appear hereinafter or which will be apparent to the skilled worker in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe an exemplary embodiment. Reference is now made to the drawings forming a part of these specifications, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view with parts broken away of a tape dispenser incorporating my improved metering device.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the device illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a partial plan view of the device illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken along the line 1'! of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an exploded view of the key assembly.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevational View of the key engaging arm engaged with a depressed key. I

Figure 10 is an elevational view of the inside surface of the cover plate for my metering means.

While in the drawings and description which follows I have shown my metering device attached to a specific type of hand operated dispenser, it will be understood that I do not intend to limit myself to any particular dispenser, since my device may be used with any type of dispenser or tape server wherein the length of tape being fed or dispensed is in proportion to the degree of rotation of a rotating shaft within the mechanism of the dispenser itself.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, I have therein illustrated a manually operated dispenser l in which the tape isdispensed by movement of thearm 2 which is fixed to the shaft 3. The length of tape dispensed is determined by the rotation of the shaft 3, which in turn is controlledby the extent of forward movement of the handle 2 A roll of tape 4 is supported in the dispenser i in conventional manner and will be fed forwardly, moistened and severed by means of mechanism which forms no part of the instant invention.

Ordinarily there is an indicator mounted on the arm 2 similar to the indicator 5 which moves over a scale as the arm is moved forwardly, the scale being calibrated in accordance with the length, of the tape dispensed by the forward movement of the arm. In order to dispense a predetermined length of tape, the operator moves the handle until the indicator is positioned opposite the correct indicia on the scale, wherein the handle is released for return movement to its starting position. The starting position may be determined by a stop, such as the stop 5, the arm being returned under the influence of a spring I.

My metering device is made up of a radially projecting arm 8 which is keyed to the shaft 3 by means of block 9, the arm being secured to the block by means of a bolt HJ. Alternatively, the block 9 or a similar member may be secured to the arm 2. In either event the radially projecting arm 8 will rotate with the shaft 3. The arm 8 carries a projecting finger H, preferably removably mounted to the radially projecting arm 8 by means of a bolt i2 so that it may be replaced when desired.

Both the radially projecting arm 8 and the finger H are formed from resilient material so that they may be readily flexed. The arm 8 is, however, backed up by the relatively stiff backing members 13 and M which extend substantially the full length of the arm 8 and back it up so as to limit its resilient movement in one direction. 3

Since the arm 3 is keyed to the shaft 3, the rotation of the shaft moves the finger i I through an arcuate path and the degree of rotation of the shaft equals the degree of rotation of the arm 8 and finger H. Hence the movement of the finger ll bears a direct relationship to the length of tape dispensed.

Just outside of the arcuate path of the finger H I provide an arcuate key bar 15 carrying a series of depressible keys 16 positioned along the key bar at predetermined points so that they may be projected into the path of the finger H to thereby stop the movement of the finger and hence the shaft 3- at a predetermined degree of rotation, thereby dispensing a piece of tape of the desired length. The keys it are provided with caps 17 bearing indicia indicating the length of tape which will be dispensed upon depression of the various keys. The key bar It is preferably supported on the dispenser by means of brackets l8 which support the key bar in proper spaced relationship both to the finger H and the actuating arm 2. A cover plate 19 is secured to the key bar in the manner illustrated to enclose the operating mechanism.

The keys it are mounted in bores 20 in the key bar by means of bushings 2! in which the keys are adapted to move. The caps ll have downwardly projecting sleeves 22 which enclose helical spring 23 which surround the keys IS. The lower ends of the springs are supported on the shoulders 24 of the bushings 2|.

The keys are removably mounted in the bores 28 by means of pins 25 (Figures 1 and 9) which enter the bores 20 through lateral openings 26. The inner ends of the pins are adapted to enter elongated recessed portions 21 of the keys l6, the movement of the keys in the bores being limited by the length of the elongated recesses. The pins 25 are also adapted to pass through the openings 28 in the bushings 2i, thereby serving to maintain the bushings in the bores 26. It will be readily apparent that mounting the keys by means of the pins 225 permits individual removal of the keys for repairs or maintenance.

The pins 25 all enter the key bar H from the outside surface thereof and are maintained in the openings 26 by means of the cover plate 19, the cover plate being preferably provided with a resilient pad 29 formed of rubber, felt or other similar material which serves to maintain the pins in place. Thus when it is desired to remove a key from the metering device, it is only necessary to remove the cover plate and the pins securing the key in the bore, whereupon the entire key assembly including the bushings may be removed from the bore.

The keys, it will be noted, are preferably arranged in two rows in staggered relation, and hence the pins are provided in two sizes, the pin 250, (Figure 4) being for the keys in the innermost row, and the pin 25?) (Figure 3) being for the keys in the outermost row. By utilizing two pin sizes, all pins may be removed from the outside surface of the key bar without having to remove the key bar from the dispenser to release the pins in the innermost row. The pins are also preferably provided with reduced portions 36 at their inner ends which limit their inward movement and hence prevent binding against the recess portions of the keys.

The keys it each are provided with a slot 3| in which is pintled a latch 32 having a projecting hook 33 which is urged out of the slot by a spring element 34.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7 it will be apparent that when the button or key is depressed, the key is is projected downwardly beyond the bottom of the key bar and into the path of the finger H, and the hook end 33 of the latch 32 is forced outwardly by the spring 34 and latches or locks the key into its downward position within the path of the finger II, as most clearly seen in Figure 9. The hook 33 preferably engages the bottom surface of the bushing 24, in the manner illustrated.

When the dispenser is operated and the finger H rotated until it contacts the key 16, which stops the rotation of the shaft 3, the projecting end of the finger contacts the hook portion 33 of the latch and forces the latch rearwardiy, thereby releasing it from engagement with the bottom edge of the bushing 21. This permits the key It to slide out of its position in the path of the finger II, the key moving under the influence of spring 23. However, the key It has a slot 35 adjacent its bottom end; and after the finger H releases the latch 32, it concurrently engages the slot 35 and prevents upward movement of the key from the path of the finger H, as shown in Figure 9. When, however, the shaft 3 is moved in reverse direction, thus removing the finger H from its contact with the slot 35, the key is free to return to its normal, nonoperative position.

The above construction of the key It insures that the finger H is positively stopped and at the same time eliminates the possibility of the finger throwing the latch and then passing on beyond the key. The construction also insures the retraction of the key each time it is contacted by the finger H.

The construction of the arm 8 and finger H is. such that the arm may be returned to. the starting position even though a key may be accidentally depressed in the path or return movement of the arm and finger. Thus should the key lfic (Figure 9) he: accidentally depressed at a time when the arm 8i and finger tl. have passed beyond the key It'd, upon return movement of the arm and finger; the inclined'surface 3B of the finger will contact the bottom portion of the key and will be flexeddue. to the resiliency of the finger and the arm-so as to pass beneath the, depressed key; As the finger passes. from beneath the depressed key, the: bent tip 31 thereof, will act to release the latch 33 of the accidentally depressed key and thereby permit the key to return to its inoperative position. It will be apparent that during the return movement of the arm 8 and finger it that these memhere are free to flex or how suniciently to pass beneath any accidentally depressed. keyl However, durin-g forward or dispensing movement, the flexible or resilient arm 8 is held substantially rigid by the backing members ['3 and t4 and the shock incident to contact of the finger II with the depressed key will. be borne by the resilient finger and the free end portion of the arm 8. Thus the rotation of the shaft will be positively stopped after the desired degree of forward movement; and yet the construction of the arm 8 is such that upon return movement it may be flexed sufiiciently to pass beneath any depressed key lying in its path.

While the metering device just described is designed primarily for use with a. hand operated tape dispenser, it. will be apparent that the device may be used with an electric motor driven tape dispenser wherein the shaft 3 is rotated by means of the motor.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in my invention without departing firom the spirit of it; and I do not intend to limit 'myself otherwise than as stated in the claims which follow.

Having, however, described my invention in an exemplary embodiment, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is:

1. In a tape dispenser of the class wherein a shaft is rotated to dispense the tape in a length proportional to the degree of rotation or the shaft, and wherein a radially projecting arm is fixed onthe shaft and terminates in a finger which sweeps in a curvedpath upon rotation of the shaft, a key bar having a plurality of vertical bores therein overlying the path of said finger, saidvertical bores being arranged in rows in staggered relation, keys in said bores arranged to be selectively depressed into the path of said finger at predetermined degrees of rotation of the shaft to stop the rotation of the shaft, and means for maintaining said keys in said bores and for permitting the keys to be individually removed therefrom, said means: comprising removable pins arranged to enter said vertical bores, said keys having elongated; recessed portions therein to receive the inner ends of said pins, said pins extending outwardly through openings in said key bar with their outer ends projecting beyond said bar, and a cover plate secured to said key bar and overlying the outer ends of said pins.

2. In a tape dispenser of the class wherein a shaft is rotated to dispense the tape in a length proportional to the degree of rotation of the shaft, and wherein a radially projecting arm is fixed on the shaft and terminates a finger 6 which sweeps in a curved path upon rotation of the shaft, a key bar having a plurality of vertical bores therein overlying the path of said finger, said vertical bores being arranged in rows in staggered relation, keys in said bores arranged to be selectively depressed into the path of said finger at predetermined degrees of rotation of the shaft to stop the rotation of the shaft, and means for maintaining said keys in said bores and; for permitting the keys to be individually removed therefrom, said means comprising removable pins arranged to enter said vertical bores, said keys having elongated recessed portions therein to receive the inner ends of said pins, said pins extending outwardly through openings in said key bar with. their outer ends projecting beyond said bar, and a cover plate secured to said key bar and overlying the outer ends of said pins, bushings in said vertical bores through which said keys pass, said bushings having openings therein through which the inner ends of said pins pass, said pins serving to maintain the bushings in said bores.

3. In a. tape dispenser of the class wherein a shaft: is rotated to dispense the tape in a length proportional to the degree of rotation of the shaft, and wherein a radially projecting arm is fixed on the shaft and terminates in a finger which sweeps in a curved path upon rotation of the. shaft, a. key bar having a plurality of vertical bores therein overlying the path of said finger, said vertical bores being arranged in rows in staggered relation, keys in said bores arranged to be selectively depressed into the path of said finger at predetermined degrees of rotation of the shaft to stop the rotation oi the shaft, and means for maintaining said keys: in said bores and for permitting the keys to be individually removed therefrom, said means comprising removable pins. arranged to enter said vertical bores, said keys having elongated recessed portiorrs. therein to receive the inner ends of said pins, said pins extending outwardly through openings in said key bar with their outer ends projecting beyond said bar, and a cover plate secured to said key bar and overlying the outer ends or said pins, bushings in said vertical bores through which said keys pass, said bushings having openings therein through which the inner ends of said pins pass, said pins serving to maintain the bushings in said bores, the upper ends 01' said bushings having shoulders, caps on the tops of said keys, and spring elements surrounding said keys and extending between said caps and the shoulders on said bushings.

4-. In a tape dispenser of the class wherein a shaft is rotated to dispense the tape in a length proportional to the degree of rotation of the shaft, and wherein a radially projecting arm is fixed on the shaft and terminates in a finger which sweeps in a curved path upon rotation of the shaft, a key bar having a plurality of vertical bores therein overlying the path of said finger, said vertical bores being arranged in rows in staggered relation, keys in said bores. arranged to be selectively depressed into the path of said finger at predetermined degrees of rotation of the shaft to stop the rotation of the shaft, and means for maintaining said keys: said bores and for permitting the keys to be individually removed: therefrom, said means comprising. removable pins arranged to enter said vertical bores, said keys. having elongated recessed portions therein to receive the inner ends of said pins, said pins extending outwardly through openings in said key bar with their outer ends projecting beyond said bar, and a cover plate secured to said key bar and overlying the outer ends of said pins, bushings in said vertical bores through which said keys pass, said bushings having openings therein through which the inner ends of said pins pass, said pins serving to maintain the bushings in said bores, the upper ends of said bushings having shoulders, caps on the tops of said. keys, and. spring elements surrounding said keys and extending between said caps and the shoulders on said bushings, and means on said keys for maintaining them in depressed condition, said means being engageable with the bottom surfaces of said bushings upon depression of said keys.

5. In a tape dispenser of the class wherein a shaft is rotated to dispense the tape in a length proportional to the degree of rotation of the shaft, and wherein a radially projecting arm is fixed on the shaft and terminates in a finger which sweeps in a curved path upon rotation of the shaft, a key bar having a plurality of vertical bores therein overlying the path of said finger, said vertical bores being arranged in rows in staggered relation, keys in said bores arranged to be selectively depressed into the path of said finger at predetermined degrees of rotation of the shaft to stop the rotation of the shaft, and means for maintaining said keys in said bores and for permitting the keys to be individually removed therefrom, said means comprising removable pins arranged to enter said vertical bores, said keys having elongated recessed portions therein to receive the inner ends of said pins, said pins extending outwardly through openings in said key bar with their outer ends projecting beyond said bar, and a cover plate secured to said key bar and overlying the outer ends of said pins, bushings in said vertical bores through which said keys pass, said bushings having openings therein through which the inner ends of said pins pass, said pins serving to maintain the bushings in said bores, the upper ends of said bushings having shoulders, caps on the tops of said keys, and spring elements surrounding said keys and extending between said caps and the shoulders on said bushings, and means on said keys for maintaining them in depressed condition, said means being engageable with the bottom surface of said bushings upon depression of said keys, said last named means comprising a spring biased latch adapted to be released upon contact by said finger.

6. In a tape dispenser of the class wherein a shaft is rotated to dispense the tape in a length proportional to the degree of rotation of the shaft, and wherein a radially projecting arm is fixed on the shaft and terminates in a finger which sweeps in a curved path upon rotation of the shaft, a key bar having a plurality of vertical bores therein overlying in the path of said finger, said vertical bores being arranged in rows in staggered relation, keys in said bores arranged to be selectively depressed into the path of said finger at predetermined degrees of rotation of the shaft to stop the rotation of the shaft, and means for maintaining said keys in said bores and for permitting the keys to be individually removed therefrom, said means comprising removable pins arranged to enter said vertical bores, said keys having elongated recessed portions therein to receive the inner ends of said pins, said pins extending outwardly through openings in said key bar with, their outer ends projecting beyond said bar, and a cover plate secured to said key bar and overlying the outer ends of said pins, bushings in said vertical bores through which said keys pass, said bushings having openings therein through which the inner ends of said pins pass, said pins serving to main tain the bushings in said bores, the upper ends of said bushings having shoulders, caps on the tops of said keys, and spring elements surrounding said keys and extending between said caps and the shoulders on said bushings, and means on said keys for maintaining them in depressed condition, said means being engageable with the bottom surface of said bushings upon depression of said keys, said last named means comprising a spring biased latch adapted to be released upon contact by said finger, notches adjacent the bottoms of said keys engageable by said finger for holding said keys in the depressed condition after said latch is released and until the movement of the finger is reversed.

7. In a tape dispenser of the class wherein a shaft is rotated to dispense the tape in a length proportional to the degree of rotation of the shaft, and wherein a radially projecting arm is fixed on the shaft and terminates in a finger which sweeps in a curved path upon rotation of the shaft, a key bar having a plurality of vertical bores therein overlying in the path of said finger, said vertical bores being arranged in rows in staggered relation, keys in said bores arranged to be selectively depressed into the path of said finger at predetermined degrees of rotation of the shaft to stop the rotation of the shaft, and means for maintaining said keys in said bores and for permitting the keys to be individually removed therefrom, said means comprising removable pins arranged to enter said vertical bores, said keys having elongated recessed portions therein to receive the inner ends of said pins, said pins extending outwardly through openings in said key bar with their outer ends projecting beyond said bar, and a cover plate secured to said key bar and overlying the outer ends of said pins,

' bushings in said vertical bores through which said keys pass, said bushings having openings therein through which the inner ends of said pins pass, said pins serving to maintain the bushings in said bores, the upper ends of said bushings having shoulders, caps on the tops of said keys, and spring elements surrounding said keys and extending between said caps and the shoulders on said bushings, and means on said keys for maintaining them in depressed condition, said means being engageable with the bottom surface of said bushings upon depression of said keys, said last named means comprising a spring biased latch adapted to be released upon contact by said finger, notches adjacent the bottoms of said keys engageable by said finger for holding said keys in the depressed condition after said latch is released and until the movement of the finger is reversed, said cover plate having a resilient pad therein for contact with the outer ends of said pins.

8. In a tape dispenser of the class wherein a shaft is rotated to dispense the tape in a length proportional to the degree of rotation of the shaft, and wherein a radially projecting arm is fixed on the shaft and terminates in a finger which sweeps in a curved path upon rotation of the shaft, a key bar having a plurality of vertical bores therein overlying the path of said finger, said vertical bores being arranged in rows in staggered relation, keys in said bores arranged to be selectively depressed into the path of said finger at predetermined degrees of rotation of the shaft to stop the rotation of the shaft, and means for maintaining said keys in said vertical bores and for permitting the keys to be individually removed therefrom, said means comprising removable pins arranged to enter said vertical bores, said keys having elongated recessed portions therein to receive the inner ends of said pins, said pins extending outwardly through horizontally disposed openings in said key bar with their outer ends projecting beyond said bar, a cover plate secured to said key bar and overlying the outer ends of said pins, said radially projecting arm and said finger being formed of resilient material, a substantially rigid backing member supporting said resilient arm throughout substantially its full length against flexing movement upon contact of said finger with a depressed pin, said resilient arm and finger being free for flexing movement during return movement therein should a key be depressed in the return path of said finger.

9. In a tape dispenser of the class wherein.

a shaft is rotated to dispense the tape in a length proportional to the degree of rotation of the shaft, and wherein a radially projecting arm is fixed on the shaft and terminates in a finger which sweeps in a curved path upon rotation of the shaft, a key bar having a plurality of vertical bores therein overlying the path of said finger, said vertical bores being arranged in rows in staggered relation, keys in said bores arranged to be selectively depressed into the path of said finger at predetermined degrees of rotation of the shaft to stop the rotation of the shaft, and means for maintaining said keys in said vertical bores and for permitting the keys to be individually removed therefrom, said means comprising removable pins arranged to enter said vertical bores, said keys having elongated recessed portions therein to receive the inner ends of said pins, said pins extending outwardly through horizontally disposed openings in said key bar with their outer ends projecting beyond said bar, a cover plate secured to said key bar and overlying the outer ends of said pins, said radially projecting arm and said finger being formed of resilient material, a substantially rigid backing member supporting said resilient arm throughout substantially its full length against flexing movement upon contact of said finger with a depressed pin, said resilient arm and finger being free for flexing movement during return movement therein should a key be depressed in the return path of said finger, said resilient finger being inclined forwardly with respect to said arm, whereby upon contact with said finger with a depressed key during return movement of the finger, said inclined surface will be contacted by said key and depressed thereby.

410. In a tape dispenser of the class wherein a shaft is rotated to dispense th tape in a length proportional to the degree of rotation of the shaft, and wherein a radially projecting arm is fixed on the shaft and terminates in a finger which sweeps in a curved path upon rotation of the shaft, a key bar having a plurality of vertical bores therein overlying the path of said finger, said vertical bores being arranged in rows in staggered relation, keys in said bores arranged to be selectively depressed into the path of said finger at predetermined degrees of rotation of the shaft to stop the rotation of the shaft, and means for maintaining said keys in said vertical bores and for permitting the keys to be individually removed therefrom, said means comprising removable pins arranged to enter said vertical bores, said keys having elongated recessed portions therein to receive the inner ends of said pins, said pins extending outwardly through horizontally disposed openings in said key bar with their outer ends projecting beyond said bar, a cover plate secured to said key bar and overlying the outer ends of said pins, said radiallyproject ing arm and said finger being formed of resilient material, a substantially rigid backing member supporting said resilient arm throughout substantially its full length against flexing movement upon contact of said finger with a depressed pin, said resilient arm and finger being free for flexing movement during return movement therein should a key be depressed in the return path of said finger, said resilient finger being inclined forwardly with respect to said arm, whereby upon contact of said finger with a depressed key during return movement of the finger, said inclined surface will be contacted by said key and depressed thereby, said keys having spring biased latches thereon adapted, upon depression of the keys, to maintain said keys in the depressed condition, said resilient finger being adapted to release said latch during both forward and return movement thereof.

No references cited. 

